Training device for golfers

ABSTRACT

A wrist bend restraining device including a hand element attached to the back of the hand, a forearm element attached to the forearm, and connecting structure for pivotally connecting the elements one to the other. The connecting structure includes locking apparatus for normally preventing pivotal movement of the hand element (consequently the hand also) from an intermediate position toward a first position, or prevents premature release of the wrist cock, and also includes apparatus for releasing the locking apparatus to allow the hand element to pivotally move toward the first position, or to allow the wrist to break, as the golf club head enters the ball impact zone. The releasing apparatus is actuated at least in part by angular momentum generated during the downswing of the club.

Clayet al.

.1451 Feb. 11, 1975 [54] TRAINING DEVICE FOR GOLFERS [75] Inventors: Cecil W. Clay; Alvie L. Clay, both of Memphis, Tenn.

[73] Assignee: Clay & Clay Enterprises, Inc.,

Memphis, Tenn.

22 Filed: June 5,1974

211 App]. No.: 476,700

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 916,700 l/l963 Great Britain 273/189 A Primary Examiner-George .1. Mario Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lohn W. Walker, 111

[57] ABSTRACT A wrist bend restraining device including a hand element attached to the back of the hand, a forearm element attached to the forearm, and connecting structure for pivotally connecting the elements one to the other. The connecting structure includes locking apparatusfor normally preventing pivotal movement of the hand element (consequently the hand also) from an intermediate position toward a first position, or prevents premature release of the wrist cock, and also includes apparatus for releasing the locking apparatus to allow the hand element to pivotally move toward the first position, or to allow the wrist to break, as the golf club head enters the ball impact zone. The releasing apparatus is actuated at least in part by angular momentum generated during the downswing of the club.

PATENTED FEB] 1 I975 SHEEI 1 or 3 FIG. I

FIG. 4

FIG. 3

PATENTED FEB] 1 I975 SHEET 2 OF 3 FIG. 5

FIG. 6

1 TRAINING DEVICE FOR GOLFERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of training devices for golfers.

2. Description of the Prior Art Applicant is aware of the following U.S. patents: Roberts, U.S. Pat. No. 2,191,683; Muehl, U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,934; Norwood, U.S. Pat. No. 3,408,077; Carmines, U.S. Pat. No. 3,350,100; and Albertson, .lr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,342. None of the above patents suggest or disclose applicants device. However, it should be pointed out that while the 934 patent is intended to accomplish the same purpose as the present invention, i.e., to prevent a golfer from prematurely uncocking his wrist during the downswing movement, the structure for accomplishing this purpose differs from applicants concept in several respects, a few of which are: First, the 934 apparatus is intended to be worn on the right hand of a right-handed golfer. It is widely recognized by those skilled in the art that the left hand and arm of a right-handed golfer are the predominate controlling bodilystructure relied upon during the downswing of a golf club. Secondly, the 934 patent includes pivotal structure providing for and controlling pivotal movement along an axis extending substantially parallel with the back of the hand, as opposed to applicants device which provides for and controls pivotal movement of an axis extending substantially perpendicular to the back of the hand. Third, the 934 patent incorporates a weight or a ball to effect disengagement between the pivotally connected members.

It should also be pointed out that the '342 patent apparently provides for pivotal movement of the hand about an axis substantially perpendicular to the back of the hand. However, the 342 patent does not include structure for selectively locking and releasing the movement about this pivotal axis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed towards overcoming the disadvantages and problems relative to previous wrist bend restraining devices for golfers. The concept of the present invention is to provide a device to prevent a golfer from prematurely uncocking his wrist dur' ing the downswing movement. More particularly, the present invention restrains wrist bending during the downswing of the golf club until the golf club head enters the ball impact zone, at which time release structure enables the golfer to uncock his wrist.

The wrist bend restraining device of the present invention includes a hand element attached to the back of the hand, a forearm element attached to the forearm, and connecting structure for pivotally connecting the elements one to the other, thus exclusively providing for pivotal movement about an axis extending substantially perpendicular to the back of the hand, i.e., movement of the wrist about any axis other than the just described axis is prevented by the device. The connecting structure includes locking apparatus for normally preventing pivotal movement of the hand element (consequently the hand of the golfer also) from an intermediate position toward a first position, or prevents premature release of the wrist cock, and also includes apparatus for releasing the locking apparatus to allow the hand element to pivotally move toward the first position, or to allow the wrist to break, as the golf club head enters the ball impact zone. The releasing apparatus is actuated at least in part by angular momenturn generated during the downswing of the club.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the training device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the device showing an indicator for certain adjustablestructure in a mid position.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as on the Line IVIV of FIG. 3 with certain structure being deleted with the mid position of the adjustable structure being clearly depicted.

FIG. 5 shows the device suitably engaging the left hand of the user with certain structure being depicted in an intermediate position.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 depicting the structure in a first position.

FIG. 7 is a sectionalview taken as on the Line VII- VII of FIG. I with certain structure being deleted.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken as on the Line VIII- --VIII of FIG. 7 showing certain structure in an engaged or lock position.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8. showing the structure in a disengaged or unlocked position, i.e., certain structure having been rotated FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken as on the Line X-X of FIG. 9 showing a space above certain locking structure into which the locking structure may be placed.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the locking structure displaced into the space and depicting disengagement of certain teeth structure.

FIG. 12 is a partial view showing the adjustable structure of FIGS. 2 and 4 in an upper limit position.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 showing the adjustable structure in a lower limit position.

FIG. 14 is an exploded side elevational view of a portion of the device as depicted in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The device 11 of the present invention is intended to be worn by a golfer. The purpose of the device 11 is to teach the art of holding the wrist in a cocked position during a portion of the downswing, or more specifically, the device prevents premature release of the wrist cock during the downswing. The device 11 is intended to be worn on the left hand of a right-handed golfer and the structure hereinafter disclosed will be directed towards a right-handed golfer. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the device 11 may easily be modified to facilitate wearing by a lefthanded golfer. Accordingly, the device 11 is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 of the drawings suitably adapted to the left hand character referenced therein by the capital letter H and being depicted in phantom lines therein.

The device 11 comprises a hand engaging element 13 including means, such as strap means 15, for fixing the hand element 13 to the back of the golfers hand I-I. Also included is a forearm engaging element 17 having a distal portion 19 overlapping a proximal portion 21 of the hand element 13 and including means, such as a plurality of strap means 23, 24, for fixing the forearm engaging element 17 to the golfers forearm. Connecting means, as at 25, are also included for pivotally connecting the distal and proximal portions 19, 21 one to the other, thus exclusively providing for pivotal movement of the hand element 13 about an axis disposed substantially perpendicular withthe back of the golfers hand H. In other words, movement of the users left wrist about any axis or in any plane other than along an axis disposed substantially perpendicular with the back of the users left hand H is prevented by the device 11. Further, the hand H is compelled to remain in the same plane as the forearm by the device 11, i.e., throughout the wrist break release and through impact. This forces the user to experience the ideal movement of his muscles and he sees the results, i.e., the improvement in his game by using the optimum position.

The connecting means 25 includes lock means, as at 27 in FIG. 5, for normally preventing pivotal movement of the hand element 13 from an intermediate or midposition, also shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings and character referenced therein by the numeral 13 and the suffix m, toward a first position, clearly shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings and character referenced therein by the numeral 13'. The device 11 also includes release means, as at 29, in FIG. 6, for releasing the lock means 27 to allow the hand element 13 to pivotally move toward the first position 13 as the golf club head (not shown) enters the ball impact zone. The club head and the ball impact zone are not shown since these are obvious to those skilled in the art or to anyone who has attempted to drive a golf ball with a golf club. It is significant to note that the release means 29 is actuated at least in part by angular momentum generated during the downswing of the club.

It should be understood that the strap means 15, 23, 24 are well known to those skilled in the art and preferably include adequate cushioning and/or padding and binding apparatus, some of which are not shown, all intended to be constructed in accordance with the latest state of the art. Additionally, the hand engaging element 13, the forearm engaging element 17, and the connecting means 25 may be formed from any suitable rigid material, e.g., high density plastic or the like. Also, the purpose of the strap means is to fixedly attach the hand engaging element 13 to the hand H of the user in such a manner that it does not impede the users ability to properly grip the golf club. Further, the purpose of the strap means 23, 24 is to fixedly attach the forearm engaging element 17 to the forearm of the user in a manner in which the device 11 is comfortable to the user.

The device 11 includes adjustment means 31 for adjusting the release means 29 within certain limits whereby the lock means 27 may selectively be released by various magnitudes of angular momentum. The adjustment means 31 has several positions thereto which will be fully described as the specification proceeds.

The connecting means includes an annular boss member 33 fixedly attached to the distal portion 19 and a ring member 35, circumposed about the annular boss member 33 and which is fixedly attached to the proximal portion 21 whereby the ring member 35 may be rotated about the boss member 33.

The lock means 27 includes at least one but preferably a plurality of detent means, as at 37. The detent means 37 yieldably constrains the hand element 13 in the intermediate position 13m, as best viewed in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

From FIG. 4 it may be seen that the annular boss member 33 is provided with at least one but preferably a plurality of radially aligned channels, as at 39. Additionally, the ring member 35 is provided with at least one but-preferably a plurality of notches, as at 41. The detent means 37 includes at least one but preferably a plurality of .lock pawls, as at 43, which are slidably received in the respective channels 39. The detent means 37 also includes at least one but preferably a plurality of compression spring means, as at 45, for yieldably urging the respective lock pawls 43 outwardly toward the ring member 35. Further, it may easily be seen that the lock pawls 43 have respective portions thereof adapted to mate with the notches 41 whereby mating the lock pawls 43 with the notches 41 is effective to engage the lock means 27.

More specifically, each of the notches 41 are defined in part by a gradually inclined camming surface, as at -47, in FIG. 6, and each of the lock pawls 43 has a portion thereof, as at 49, in FIG. 6, compatibly shaped for close fitting engagement with the notches 41. Further, the hand engaging element 13 is in the intermediate position 13m when the lock pawls 43 are received in their respective notches 41.

The release means 29 includes providing the notches 41 with respective steeply inclined camming surfaces, as at 51 in FIG. 6, disposed conterminously with the gradually inclined camming surface 41. Additionally, the lock pawls 43 respectively have corresponding portions, as at 53 in FIG. 6, compatibly shaped for close fitting engagement with the notches 41. Therefore, pivotal movement of the hand element from the intermediate position 13m toward the first position 13 is prevented by the steeply inclined surfaces 53 of the lock pawls 43 interacting with the steeply inclined camming surfaces 51 of the notches 41. It will be understood that the angular momentum generated during a predetermined portion of the downswing of the club is sufficient force to overpower the lock means 27 to cam the lock pawls inwardly to withdraw them from their respective notches 41, thus allowing said hand element to move towardsaid first position 13'.

From FIGS. 1, 2 of the drawings it may be seen that the hand element 13 preferably includes first and second members 55, 57 which respectively include first and second cooperative engaging teeth means 59, 61 for fixedly positioning the angular relationship of the first member 55 with respect to the second member 57 selectively at any one of several positions. In other words, the first member 55 may be moved from a center position depicted in solid lines to a position shown in broken lines and characterized by the numeral 55 or in the other direction to a position also shown in broken lines and characterized by the numeral 55". Also included are means, such as bolts 63 or the like, for removably fixedly attaching the first and second members 55, 57 one to the other irrespective of the several positions in which they may be placed. The cooperative first and second teeth means 59, 61 establishes adjustment means to comfortably adapt the device 11 to various users. More specifically, the teeth means 59, 61 provide the various degrees of wrist cock for different people, i.e., some people having a less flexible wrist than others cannot get as much wrist cock. Accordingly, with this means of adjustment, it can be taken down from 20 required to engage the lock means 27 to 15 or-to l, depending on-the flexibility of the users wrist.

From FIG. 4 of the drawings'it may-be seen that the adjustment means 31 includes rotatable cam means 65,

or rotatable starlike cam means, including a plurality of 5 cam lobes 67. Additionally, it may clearly beseen that the cam means 65 is disposed within the annular boss member 33 and from FIGS. 13, 14 it may be seenthat the cam means 65 has many positions thereto, as represented by the numerals 65 and 65",.for selectively varying the pressure acting upon the lock pawls 43. The adjustment means 31 also includes cam follower means or preferably a plurality of cam follower means, as at 69, in FIG. 4, respectively interposed between the plurality of cam lobes 67 and the compression spring means 45 for engaging the cam means 65 and transmitting the various positions thereof to the compression spring means 45. The adjustment means 31 also includes means, as at 71, for holding the cam means 65 in any one of the many positions with each position placing a different amount of pressure upon the compression spring means 45 and the lock pawls 43.

From FIG. 2 of the drawing it may be seen that the adjustment means 31 preferably includes indicator means, as at 73, for indicating the many positions thereof and for readily placing the adjustment means 31 in particular predetermined positions.

The adjustment means 31 includes disk like knob means 75 adapted to be manually grasped and rotated for facilitating changing the adjustment means 31 from one position to another. In other words, the knob means 75 preferably includes a plurality of rib members 77 to facilitate rotation thereof. Additionally, the disk like knob means 75 includes an inner portion, such as a concentric portion 79, disposed superjacent the annular boss member 33 for selective engagement therewith in a manner to be fully described. The holding means 71 includes means, such as key means 81 shown in FIGS. 7-11 and 14, for releasably fixing the inner concentric portion 79 to the annular boss member 33 with the ring member 35 remaining free to rotate about the annular boss member 33 in a manner to be more fully described.

It should be understood that the key means 81 herein disclosed is intended to encompass various well known structure for accomplishing the same purpose, e.g., a wing bolt and the like.

The inner concentric portion 79 and the confrontingly disposed surface thereto of the annular boss member 33 respectively include cooperating third and fourth teeth means 83, 85 for enhancing the holding ability of the holding means 71. In other words, the confrontingly arranged surfaces of the inner concentric portion 79 and the annular boss member 33 are preferably provided with the third and fourth teeth means 83, 85. However, the teeth means 83, 85 may be deleted without departing from the spirit and scope of the pres ent invention. In the event the teeth 83, 85 are deleted, the confrontingly arranged surfaces of the portion 79 and the boss member may frictionally be urged against one another by the holding means 71, i.e., the holding means or key means 81 in this event preferably being the above mentioned wing bolt.

The holding means 71 or more specifically the key means 81 preferably includes a disk like crown member 87 disposed superjacent the disklike knob means 75 forselectively urging meshing engagement and allowing for disengagement of the cooperating third and fourth teeth means 83, 85. The key means 81 also includes a stem member 89 which is suitably disposed so that the longitudinal axis thereof coextends with the pivotal axis of the hand element 13. One end of the stem member 89 is fixedly attached to the crown member 87 in any well known menner, as by being integrally formed therewith. The crown member 87 also includes a cam lock dog member 91 which is fixedly attached to the opposite end of the stem member 89 in any well known manner, as by being integrally formed therewith. In this regard, the forearm element 17 or the distal portion 19 thereof, includes latch means 93 as depicted in FIGS.'711 for cooperating with the cam lock dog member 91. The holding means 71, or more specifically, the crown member 87, has an engaged or locked position as depicted in FIGS. 7, 8 and a disengaged or unlocked position as depicted in FIGS. 9-11. Placing the crown member 87 in the engaged position, indicated by the numeral 87', meshingly engages the cooperating teeth means 83, 85 thus preventing rotation of the knob means 75. On the other hand, placing the holding means 71, or more specifically, the crown member 87 thereof, in the disengaged position, indicated by the numeral 87", enables the cooperating third and fourth teeth means 83, 85 to be disengaged thus allowing for manual rotation of the knob means 75.

It should be understood that movement of the crown member from the position 87' to the position 87" is accomplished by simply manually rotating the crown member 87 through 90 rotation about the longitudinal axis of the stem 89. Additionally, FIG. 10 shows the crown member in the position 87" and shows a space above the member 91, as at 94. The key means is now free to be slightly moved upward, i.e., the cam lock dog member 91 then moves into the space 94 as clearly shown in FIG. 11. This enables the knob means to now be moved upward a sufficient distance to disengage the teeth 83, enabling the knob means 75 to be rotated which varies the pressure on the springs 45 in a manner to be fully described.

The rotatable cam 65 is fixedly attached to the knob means 75 in any well known manner, as by being integrally formed therewith, according, the indicator means 73 indicates the angular position of the star like cam 65. In other words, the star like cam 65 is shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings and the indicator means 73 are shown in FIG. 2 in intermediate positions which are simply character referenced in FIG. 4 by the numeral 65. Additionally, the star like cam 65 is shown in FIG. 13 of the drawings in a lower limit or the position where the least compression is on the spring means 45 and character referenced therein by the numeral 65. Further, the star like cam 65 is shown in FIG. 12 of the drawings in its upper limited position whereby the From the above disclosure it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that placing the star like cam in the position 65' enables the release means 29 to be actuated with the least angular momentum. Conversely, placing the star like cam 65 in the position 65" enables the release means 29 to only be released when the greatest amount of angular momentum is applied. Obviously, the adjustment means 31 has numerous positions other than the above three just described. in this regard, it should be noted that angular momentum is defined as the product of the moment of inertia and the angular velocity of a body. Accordingly, the angular momentum is increased by increasing the speed of the downswing. Additionally, a heavy club has a greater angular momentum than does a light club. Accordingly, the user will, through experimentation, discover certain positions to be advantageous for his particular downswing speed as well as for specific positions for each of his clubs. The purpose of the device 11 is to train thev user to hold his wrist in a cocked position during the downswing. Therefore, after a prolonged period of use the intent is to remove the device 11 and attempt to achieve the same result without the aid of the device, i.e., through muscle memory.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A wrist bend restraining device for golfers, said device comprisisng a hand engaging element including means for fixing said hand element to the back of the golfer's hand, a forearm engaging element having a distal portion overlapping a proximal portion of said hand element and including means for fixing said forearm element to the golfers forearm, and connecting means for pivotally connecting the distal and proximal portions one to the other for pivotal movement of said hand element about an axis disposed substantially perpendicular with the back of the golfers hand, said connecting means including lock means for normally preventing pivotal movement of said hand element from an intermediate position toward a first position, and release means for releasing said lock means to allow said hand element to pivotally move toward said first position as the golf club head enters the ball impact zone, said release means being actuated at'least in part by angular momentum generated during the downswing of the club.

2. The device of claim 1 in which is included adjustment means for adjusting said release means within certain limits whereby said lock means may selectively be released by various magnitudes of angular momentum, said adjustment means having several positions thereto.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said connecting means includes an annular boss member fixedly attached to the distal portion of said forearm engaging element, and a ring member circumposed about said annular boss member and being fixedly attached to the proximal portion of said hand engaging element whereby said ring member may be rotated about said boss member.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said lock means includes detent means.

5. The device of claim 4 in which said annular boss member is provided with at least one radially aligned channel and said ring member is provided with at least one notch, said detent means including at least one lock pawl slidably received in said channel and compression spring means for yieldably urging said lock pawl outwardly toward said ring member, said lock pawl having a portion thereof adapted to mate with said notch whereby mating said lock pawl with said notch being effective to engage said lock means.

6. The device of claim 5 in which said notch is defined in part by a gradually inclined camming surface, said lock pawl having a portion thereof compatibly shaped for close fitting engagement with said notch, and said hand engaging element being in said intermediate position when said lock pawl is received in said notch.

7. The device of claim 6 in which said release means includes providing said notch with a steeply inclined camming surface disposed'conterminously with said gradually inclined camming surface, said lock pawl having a corresponding portion thereof compatibly shaped for close fitting engagement with said notch, pivotal movement of said hand element from said intermediate position toward said first position normally being prevented by the steeply inclined surface of said lock pawl interacting with said steeply inclined camming'surface of said notch, the angular momentum generated during a predetermined portion of the downswing of the club being sufficient force to overpower said lock means to cam said lock pawl inwardly to withdraw it from said notch thus allowing said hand element to move toward said first position.

8. The device of claim 1 in which said hand element includes first and second members which respectively include first and second cooperative engaging teeth means for fixedly positioning the angular relationship of said first member with respect to said second member selectively at any one of several positions, and means for removably fixedly attaching sad first and second members one to the other irrespective of the several positions in which they may be placed.

9. The device of claim 3 in which is included holding means for holding said adjustment means in any one of said several positions.

10. The device of claim 9 in which said adjustment means includes disklike knob means adapted to be manually grasped and rotated for facilitating changing said adjustment means from one position to another, said disklike knob means including an inner portion disposed superjacent said annular boss member, said holding means including means for releasably fixing said inner portion of said disklike knob means to said annular boss member with said ring member remaining free to rotate about said annular boss member.

11. The device of claim 10 in which said inner portion of said dislike knob means and the confrontingly disposed surface thereto of said annular boss member respectively include cooperating third and fourth teeth means for enhancing the holding ability of said holding means.

12. The device of claim 11 in which said holding means includes a disklike crown member disposed superjacent said disklike knob means for selectively urging meshing engagement and allowing for disengagement of said cooperating third and fourth teeth means, a stem member having the longitudinal axis thereof coextending with the pivotal axis of said hand element and having one end thereof fixedly attached to said crown member, and a cam lock dog member fixedly attached to the opposite end of said stem member, said forearm element including latch meansfor cooperating with said cam lock dog member, said crown member having an engaged and a disengaged position whereby placing said crown member in said engaged position meshingly engages said cooperating teeth means thus preventing rotation of said knob means and placing said crown member in said disengaged position enables said cooperating third and fourth teeth means to be disengaged thus allowing for manual rotation of said knob means.

13. The device of claim in which said adjustment means includes rotatable cam means disposed within said annular boss member and having many positions spring means for engaging said cam means and transmitting the various positions thereof to said compression spring means, and means for holding said cam means in any one of the many positions with each position placing a different amount of pressure upon said compression spring means and said lock pawl.

14. A wrist bend restraining device for golfers; said device comprising a hand engaging element including means for fixing said hand element to the back of the golfers hand, a forearm engaging element having a distal portion overlapping a proximal portion of said hand element and including means for fixing said forearm el ement to the golfers forearm, and connecting means for pivotally connecting the distal and proximal portions one to the other for pivotal movement of said hand element exclusively about an axis disposed substantially perpendicular with the back of the golfers hand; said connecting means including an annular boss member fixedly attached to the distal portion of said forearm element, a ring member circumposed about said annular boss member and being fixedly attached to the proximal portion of said hand element whereby said ring member may be pivotally rotated about said boss with a plurality of radially aligned channels, said ring member being provided with an equal number of notches, a plurality of lock pawls respectively slidably received in said plurality of channels, and a plurality of compression springs for respectively urging said plurality of lock pawls outwardly toward said ring member; said plurality of notches and lock pawls respectively including slidably coactive surfaces to establish lock means for normally preventing pivotal movement of said hand element from an intermediate position wherein said lock pawls are received in said respective notches toward a first position and to establish release means for releasing said lock means as said plurality of lock pawls are withdrawn from their respective notches to allow said hand element to pivotally move toward said first position as the golf club head enters the ball impact zone, said release means being actuated at least in part by angular momentum generated during the downswing of the club.

15. The device of claim 14 in which is included adjustment means for adjusting said release means within certain limits whereby said lock means may selectively be released by-various magnitudes of angular momentum, said adjustment means having several positions thereto.

16. The device of claim 15 in which said adjustment means includes rotatable starlike cam means including a plurality of cam lobes being disposed within said annular boss member and having many positions thereto for selectively varying the pressure acting upon said lock pawls, a plurality of cam follower means respectively interposed between said plurality of cam lobes and said compression spring means for engaging said cam means and transmitting the various positions thereof to said compression spring means, and means for holding said cam means in any one of the many positions with each position placing a different amount of pressure upon said compression spring means and said lock pawls. 

1. A wrist bend restraining device for golfers, said device comprisisng a hand engaging element including means for fixing said hand element to the back of the golfer''s hand, a forearm engaging element having a distal portion overlapping a proximal portion of said hand element and including means for fixing said forearm element to the golfer''s forearm, and connecting means for pivotally connecting the distal and proximal portions one to thE other for pivotal movement of said hand element about an axis disposed substantially perpendicular with the back of the golfer''s hand, said connecting means including lock means for normally preventing pivotal movement of said hand element from an intermediate position toward a first position, and release means for releasing said lock means to allow said hand element to pivotally move toward said first position as the golf club head enters the ball impact zone, said release means being actuated at least in part by angular momentum generated during the downswing of the club.
 2. The device of claim 1 in which is included adjustment means for adjusting said release means within certain limits whereby said lock means may selectively be released by various magnitudes of angular momentum, said adjustment means having several positions thereto.
 3. The device of claim 2 in which said connecting means includes an annular boss member fixedly attached to the distal portion of said forearm engaging element, and a ring member circumposed about said annular boss member and being fixedly attached to the proximal portion of said hand engaging element whereby said ring member may be rotated about said boss member.
 4. The device of claim 3 in which said lock means includes detent means.
 5. The device of claim 4 in which said annular boss member is provided with at least one radially aligned channel and said ring member is provided with at least one notch, said detent means including at least one lock pawl slidably received in said channel and compression spring means for yieldably urging said lock pawl outwardly toward said ring member, said lock pawl having a portion thereof adapted to mate with said notch whereby mating said lock pawl with said notch being effective to engage said lock means.
 6. The device of claim 5 in which said notch is defined in part by a gradually inclined camming surface, said lock pawl having a portion thereof compatibly shaped for close fitting engagement with said notch, and said hand engaging element being in said intermediate position when said lock pawl is received in said notch.
 7. The device of claim 6 in which said release means includes providing said notch with a steeply inclined camming surface disposed conterminously with said gradually inclined camming surface, said lock pawl having a corresponding portion thereof compatibly shaped for close fitting engagement with said notch, pivotal movement of said hand element from said intermediate position toward said first position normally being prevented by the steeply inclined surface of said lock pawl interacting with said steeply inclined camming surface of said notch, the angular momentum generated during a predetermined portion of the downswing of the club being sufficient force to overpower said lock means to cam said lock pawl inwardly to withdraw it from said notch thus allowing said hand element to move toward said first position.
 8. The device of claim 1 in which said hand element includes first and second members which respectively include first and second cooperative engaging teeth means for fixedly positioning the angular relationship of said first member with respect to said second member selectively at any one of several positions, and means for removably fixedly attaching sad first and second members one to the other irrespective of the several positions in which they may be placed.
 9. The device of claim 3 in which is included holding means for holding said adjustment means in any one of said several positions.
 10. The device of claim 9 in which said adjustment means includes disklike knob means adapted to be manually grasped and rotated for facilitating changing said adjustment means from one position to another, said disklike knob means including an inner portion disposed superjacent said annular boss member, said holding means including means for releasably fixing said inner portion of said disklike knob means to said aNnular boss member with said ring member remaining free to rotate about said annular boss member.
 11. The device of claim 10 in which said inner portion of said dislike knob means and the confrontingly disposed surface thereto of said annular boss member respectively include cooperating third and fourth teeth means for enhancing the holding ability of said holding means.
 12. The device of claim 11 in which said holding means includes a disklike crown member disposed superjacent said disklike knob means for selectively urging meshing engagement and allowing for disengagement of said cooperating third and fourth teeth means, a stem member having the longitudinal axis thereof coextending with the pivotal axis of said hand element and having one end thereof fixedly attached to said crown member, and a cam lock dog member fixedly attached to the opposite end of said stem member, said forearm element inccluding latch means for cooperating with said cam lock dog member, said crown member having an engaged and a disengaged position whereby placing said crown member in said engaged position meshingly engages said cooperating teeth means thus preventing rotation of said knob means and placing said crown member in said disengaged position enables said cooperating third and fourth teeth means to be disengaged thus allowing for manual rotation of said knob means.
 13. The device of claim 5 in which said adjustment means includes rotatable cam means disposed within said annular boss member and having many positions thereto for selectively varying the pressure acting upon said lock pawl, cam follower means interposed betweeen said rotatable cam means and said compression spring means for engaging said cam means and transmitting the various positions thereof to said compression spring means, and means for holding said cam means in any one of the many positions with each position placing a different amount of pressure upon said compression spring means and said lock pawl.
 14. A wrist bend restraining device for golfers; said device comprising a hand engaging element including means for fixing said hand element to the back of the golfer''s hand, a forearm engaging element having a distal portion overlapping a proximal portion of said hand element and including means for fixing said forearm element to the golfer''s forearm, and connecting means for pivotally connecting the distal and proximal portions one to the other for pivotal movement of said hand element exclusively about an axis disposed substantially perpendicular with the back of the golfer''s hand; said connecting means including an annular boss member fixedly attached to the distal portion of said forearm element, a ring member circumposed about said annular boss member and being fixedly attached to the proximal portion of said hand element whereby said ring member may be pivotally rotated about said boss member, said annular boss member being provided with a plurality of radially aligned channels, said ring member being provided with an equal number of notches, a plurality of lock pawls respectively slidably received in said plurality of channels, and a plurality of compression springs for respectively urging said plurality of lock pawls outwardly toward said ring member; said plurality of notches and lock pawls respectively including slidably coactive surfaces to establish lock means for normally preventing pivotal movement of said hand element from an intermediate position wherein said lock pawls are received in said respective notches toward a first position and to establish release means for releasing said lock means as said plurality of lock pawls are withdrawn from their respective notches to allow said hand element to pivotally move toward said first position as the golf club head enters the ball impact zone, said release means being actuated at least in part by angular momentum generated during the downswing of the club.
 15. The device of claim 14 in which is included adjustment means for adjusTing said release means within certain limits whereby said lock means may selectively be released by various magnitudes of angular momentum, said adjustment means having several positions thereto.
 16. The device of claim 15 in which said adjustment means includes rotatable starlike cam means including a plurality of cam lobes being disposed within said annular boss member and having many positions thereto for selectively varying the pressure acting upon said lock pawls, a plurality of cam follower means respectively interposed between said plurality of cam lobes and said compression spring means for engaging said cam means and transmitting the various positions thereof to said compression spring means, and means for holding said cam means in any one of the many positions with each position placing a different amount of pressure upon said compression spring means and said lock pawls. 